Only days after a series of traffic blunders paralyzed parts of Metro Manila, a forum entitled Usapang Commuters Naman: A Public Consultation on the State of Transport was held on October 12 in the Multipurpose Hall at the 20th floor of the Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall. Speakers outlined the toll of traffic congestion on various sectors of society and brought forward possible solutions to the transport crisis.
The event was staged by the University Student Government (USG) in conjunction with AltMobility, a commuters’ rights group pushing for the advancement of the Magna Carta of Commuters, which seeks to guarantee inclusive transportation, affordable fares, and pedestrian infrastructure as commuter rights, among other provisions.
Jedd Ugay, Chief Mobility Officer of AltMobility, called for a shift in focus toward commuter-centric transport systems and lamented excessive dependence on cars for mobility, “From vehicle-centric discussions or policies, why not commuters naman?”
On accessibility and safety
Dr. Maureen Mata from the Alyansa ng may Kapansang Pinoy detailed her experience as a person with disability traversing the city’s streets. She characterized the daily commute as “frustrating”, especially for commuters in need of greater accessibility, including children and senior citizens.
Mata emphasized that poor transport infrastructure eventually affects everybody. “One way or another, maapektuhan kayo, whether you live in Forbes Park, whether you live in Dasmariñas Village, whether you live in a gated community,” she affirmed.
(One way or another, you will be affected.)
Meanwhile, Keisha Mayuga, an urban cyclist and an urban planning student from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, championed biking as an alternate way of getting around busy thoroughfares. Instead of the usual three to five hours of commute, biking reduced her travel time to an “hour and a half”.
“You shouldn’t accept four hours of commute as normal, because it’s not,” Mayuga declared.
However, Mayuga admits that while biking is a viable means of transport with benefits for the commuter and the environment, it remains unsafe due to limited bike lanes, opening bikers to road hazards such as motor vehicles.
Francine Zaldivia (I, AB-ISE) also took part in the panel discussion, relating her experiences as a resident of Cavite. She underlined the ever-present dread at how commuters may fall victim to criminal activity.
“Nakaka-contribute siya sa reason kung bakit nakakatakot lalo mag-commute,” said Zaldivia, brandishing a pepper spray she carries for self-defense.
(It’s one of the reasons why commuting is scary.)
Dr. Sheila Napalang, who simultaneously serves as Assistant Secretary for Planning and Procurement at the Department of Transportation and Director of the National Center for Transportation Studies in UP Diliman, highlighted gender concerns regarding public transport, especially incidents of harassment, adding to struggles for women’s daily commute.
Napalang also warned against haphazardly imposing limits against private vehicles. She argued that while the capacity of mass transportation remains limited, people will seek alternatives such as cars. “You cannot take away the right of people to move without giving them an alternative,” cautioned Napalang.
Rising tolls on life
The second half of the forum centered on the underlying issues worsening and worsened by transportation.
Independent journalist Dinna Dayao pointed to the economic losses and loss of life incurred by road accidents in Metro Manila. Dayao described road crashes as “a result of choices made, and risks disregarded,” pointing to incidents of drunk driving, ignorance of laws, and poor discipline. “These accidents cost the country great losses, which cannot easily be made up for,” she said.
However, Dayao explained that through the right investments, the transportation system standards of the country can be improved. “With the right infrastructure, with proper enforcement of life saving laws, road crash deaths and injuries can be avoided,” she claimed.
Joemier Pontawe, a transport specialist from Clean Air Asia, on the other hand, outlined long-term effects on the environment caused by motor vehicles. About 88 percent of emissions in Metro Manila were from transport sources, mentioned Pontawe, citing studies from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau.
Pontawe advocated a “avoid, shift, and improve” strategy, aiming to minimize the use of conventional modes of transportation and seek alternatives as well as “compact communities” that place residences nearer to work and school.
Epidemiologist Dr. John Wong, meanwhile, backed biking and walking as healthier modes of commuting by lowering obesity rates, as well as cancer and diabetes incidence in the long run.
Admitting that air pollution and physical injury remain threats to commuters, Wong stood firm that the creation of the commuter’s bill must be viewed as a “health measure”. “It protects health, it protects disease, it saves lives, it saves health pesos,” he expressed. Health pesos are the amount of money spent toward health-related services.
Housing also contributes to the transport struggles of the Filipinos, discussed UP Manila development expert Dr. Chester Arcilla. With citizens living far from urban areas, commuting becomes a necessity.
Arcilla cited off-city urban poor relocations as prime examples. “By kicking our workers out of the city, it exacerbates the transport crisis,” said Arcilla.
Currently, five commuters’ bills have been filed in the legislative bodies, with the Magna Carta for Commuters filed in Congress in early August.
The forum, meanwhile, is the first of a series of discussions under Reimagining Manila, a project sponsored by the USG that aims to seek solutions for pressing issues plaguing Metro Manila, including public health, education, cultural, and environmental issues.
